The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-05
MINOR ACCOMMODATIONS.

A Troublesome Penalty Abolished-Safety OF
McGlynn's Catholic Followers.
New York Herald.
In view of the threatened accommodation Of
DR.. McGlynn, the question of miner excom-
muncation. phase of the subject not hitherto
noticed becomes interesting
Many of DR.. McGlynn's svmpathizers. in dig
cussing the effects of the churchs censure, have
expressed an anxiety about their spiritual status
in their continued active relation with the de-
posed priest To the devout Catholic excom-
munication is the gravest calamity that car be-
fall anyone. and the subject of such censure is
usually regarded with adherence. The preva-
lent notion is that no association of any kind
may De had with an excommunicated person,
and if any such civil intercourse be had minor
accommodation is incurred. This, however,
Is not the case. as minor accommodation has
become obsolete. and this spiritual boycott no
longer exists. The manner in which this de-
cree of canon law WAS abrogAted recalls one OK
the most interesting pages in Italian history.
In 1860, during the pontifcate of Plus TX, the
subalpine government. which comprised the
whole of northern Italy-including Piedmont.
LON hardy, Tuscany, Modena and Parma-seized
the Roman marches, states, bordering tho
Adriatc, belonging to the Holy See. Plus TX
issued bull declaring that the Italian
nication, specially reserved to the Supreme Pom
tiff, quoting the language of the famous bull.
In Coma Domini, particularly referring to the
case, and matchmaking ''ail invaders. destroy
and hooters of cities, lands, places rights
belonging to the Roman Church, or usurpers of
ts supreme jurisdiction over them we'll
all those giving help, advice favor to such in
vaders." Hence the entire government from
the king to the common soldier fell under the
ban of the church, and, consequence nearly
all the population of the Italian states incurred
minor accommodation by reason of this una-
voidabe intercourse with the government officials
and the army
Practically, however respected the
Pontiffs censure, and minor accommodation
quickly passed into a condition of "innocuous
desuetude." To the language of Plus TX,
in his celebrated constitution of 1869, minor
accommodation becomes simply a snare to
consciences." Accordingly in the bull. "Apos-
tolicse Sediso the Pope deliberately dropped
minor accommodation from the enumerated
censures of canon law. Since then all canonists
have taught that this censure has ceased ex-
list In law. But as no direct and formal ut
terance on the subject had been made by the
vicar Of Christ, the difficulty assumed its great
eminent took possession of Rome itself, where
by the Roman ecclesiastcs themselves, not to
say all the people Of the city. were constantly
obliged to come in contact with the members OF
the government, which had now despoled the
Holy SEQ OF all its temporal possessions. Con-
fessors however, ignored the existence of any
ecclesiastical censure arising from civil inter-
course with governmental officials and army,
and the Pope himself sent one of his domestic
priests to administer the last rites Of the church
to Victor Emmanuel on his deathbed, although
the King had never shown any signs OF repent
ance for his act of spoliation.
Finally in order to remove all doubt from TIL,
minds OF the faithful, Pope Loo XIII. on De
CENT Der 8. 1883, approved public declaration of
the Sacred Congregation of the Ingusition to
the effect that minor communication as es-
tabllshed by canon law, had entirely ceased to
bind the consciences of the faithful.